REAL ESTATE - Los Angeles Times

A former department store site in Beverly Hills that has been slated for a $1.2-billion hotel and condominium complex is being sold to its next-door neighbors and rivals — the owners of the Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria hotels.

Dear Liz: My ex-husband is a self-employed carpenter who just turned 64. He’s gotten a bit over his head with his credit cards. He tried for a home equity loan since he has plenty of equity and high credit scores. His mortgage lender says he doesn’t make enough money and that he needs a co-signer.